KSCU 103.3
By Jim Duncan
Lately, I've been extremely judgmental about bands based on their names, especially names that involve putting two words together in one, like Buckcherry, Fingertight, Zebrahead or Godsmack. I will never listen to any of these bands.
I can't help it. I know it's wrong, but I picture the band sitting around, trying to think up names, and then one of them hits on, say, "Noothgrush," and the other people jump up, yelling, "Yes! That's it! That's a great name!" I just can't think that they're going to make good choices about their music.
Like I said, I know it's wrong because, occasionally, there are amazing bands with pretty bad names, the Wicked Farleys, for instance, who you'll probably be hearing about in a future column. Right now I'm thinking of Superchunk. Bad name - well, I think - an incredible band (not open to debate). They have a great new album out called Come Pick Me Up.
Superchunk has been around forever. Their first seven-inch came out in 1989, and since then they've had 18 more, 10 EPs, 12 videos, and countless compilation appearances. Mac McCaughan, the primary song writer, also has an equally impressive side project called Portastatic, with a bunch of seven-inch and full-lengths of its own.
As if that's not enough, a couple of the members started Merge Records, a now well-known and respected indie label that has put out music from bands like Ganger, Neutral Milk Hotel, Polvo, Spent, the Squirrel Nut Zippers, and Versus, just to name a few.
Come Pick Me Up, Superchunk's ninth full-length, is a far cry from the more punk-anthem beginnings found on the self-titled Superchunk or No Pockie For Kitty, featuring a filled-out orchestration of cello, violin and horns. This is a fully matured band continuing to grow and change while still maintaining the vital energy that has always characterized their music. It is lyrically poetic, distinctive and indescribably cool, not to be missed by any means. Take my word for it.
Jim Duncan is very cranky because he missed Superchunk when they came through last month.